Collapsible mop



March 5, 19%. E. w. BURCHELL COLLAPSIBLE MOP Filed Aug. 18, 1937 a i filwralzel Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE MOP Ernest W.Burchell, Chicago, 111., assignor to Midway Chemical 00., Chicago, 111.,a corporation of New Jersey Application August 18,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a frame for dust mops or the like, andparticularly to a frame adapted for ready insertion into the head ofsuch a mop.

An object of the present invention is to pro- 5 vide a mop frame readilycollapsible to insert and remove the same from the receiving pockets ofa mop wherein the frame is provided with readily releasable means forefiectively retaining the collapsible sections of the frame in extendedposition in said mop pockets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible mop framehaving automatically operable means to lock the frame in extendedposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible mop framehaving automatically operable means to lock the frame in extendedposition and means for manually releasing said locking means to permitcollapsing of said frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop frame havingcollapsible sections with means for locking the frame in extendedposition, resilient means normally urging said locking means intolocking position, and cam means for retracting said locking meansagainst the action of said resilient means to permit movement of saidframe sections into extended position wherein said sections are lockedagainst relative movement.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mop frame of sectionspivotally joined by a common spreader member, and cam means forautomatically locking said sections together uponmovement thereof intoextended position; to provide such a frame with a new and improvedhandle receiving member having universal or swivel movement relative tothe frame sections; and to provide a frame of the character stated inwhich the sections include angular inclined portions, 40 preventinginadvertent withdrawal of the frame from the head of the mop, havingframe receiving pockets similarly shaped.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description, when taken with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved frame when extended;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the same when collapsed;

Fig. 3 is a view of the frame when the said mop is ready for use;

Fig. 4 is a view of the mop shown in Fig. 3 when collapsed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view partly in sec- 1937, Serial No.159,673

tion, showing the frame sections in locked position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View similar to Fig. 5, showing the lockingmeans in released position;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary View in perspective on a large scale, showingadjacent portions of the frame sections in locked position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective similar to Fig. '7, showingthe frame portions ap- 10 proaching locked position; and

Fig. 9 is a view in perspective of the locking member.

As shown in the drawing, the preferred embodiment of my inventioncomprises a mop frame having sections 2 and 4, each preferably com.-posed of relatively narrow metallic strips or bars. Section 2 isprovided with end portions 6 overlapping end portions 8 of the framesection l, and each section comprises, in addition to the end portions 6and 8, intermediate rearwardly inclined portions to and I2, connected bya central loop portion [4. The end portions 6 and 8 are provided withaligned openings to receive the reduced end portions l6 and I8 of abridging member or support 20 whereby the member 20 forms a pivotmounting for the frame sections 2 and 4 to permit relative movement ofthese sections to and from the extended position shown in Fig. 1 or fromand to the collapsed position shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

The support member 20 is preferably formed of a metal strip similar inwidth and thickness to the strips from which the frame sections 2 and 4are made, and the reduced end portions 1'6 and I8 are preferably swagedor peened over to prevent withdrawal. of this member from the framesections. The reduced end portion I8 of the bridging member 20 ispreferably of greater length than the end portion l6 to provideshoulders 22 spaced inwardly from the end portion ii of the framesection 2. Between these shoulders and the end portion 6 is locatedresilient means such as a coil spring 24 encircling the reduced endportion l8 and bearing at one end against the shoulders. At its otherend the spring 26 engages a locking member 26. The locking member ormeans 26 is provided with a main body portion 28 having an enlargedopening 30 for receiving loosely the end portion I8 of the bridgingmember 20' in a manner to permit tilting of said locking member relativeto said bridging member. The main body portion 28 of the locking memberis also provided with laterally and forwardly extending flanges 32 and34 and a rearwardly extending handle portion 36.

Cam means are provided for automatically actuating the locking meansagainst the force of the spring 24. This means preferably comprises alug 38 formed with and extending forwardly beyond the edge of the flange34, the lug being provided with an inclined cam face or edge 48 adaptedto be engaged by the upper edge of one end portion 8 of the framesection 4. The flange 32 of the locking member may be provided with asimilar lug 42 which provides means for limiting the movement of theframe sections beyond the extended position shown in Fig. l.

The handle portion 36 provides means for manually releasing the lockingmember to permit movement of the frame sections from the extendedposition to the collapsed position.

With the locking means or member 26 in locked position the flanges 32and 34 will overlap one pair of the end portions 6 and 8 of the framesections 2 and 4 and will thereby prevent relative movement betweenthese sections. The spring 24 normally urges the locking means into suchlocking engagement with the frame sections. Upon operation of the handleportion 36 the locking member 26 may be pivoted or tilted on thebridging member 2|] about the end edge 44 of the locking member.

Additional means may be provided for preventing movement of the framesections beyond their extended position, even though the locking means26 is held in released position. This means comprises an overhanginglaterally extending locking lug 46 formed at the outer end of theremaining end portion 6 of the frame section 2. This lug 46 is adaptedto engage the remaining end portion 8 of the frame section 4, thereby toact as a stop, preventing movement of the frame section beyond extendedposition, and said end 8 of the frame section 4 is provided with arecess or slot 48 to receive the lu 46 so that the frame sections 2 and4 in extended position lie in a common plane.

The handle socket 50 is preferably formed of a single piece of sheetmetal, the outer portion of which is bent to form a substantiallyelongated cylinder provided with opposed ears 52 receiving the usualthumb screw (not shown), which when tightened will clamp the handle inits socket. The lower portion of the socket is bent together as at 54 toprovide substantially parallel sides, and a pivot pin or rivet 56 ispassed therethrough and through an opening in the bridging member orsupport 20 whereby to provide a swivel mounting for the handle. Thus,there is provided a mounting wherein the handle socket 50 can be swungto various positions of adjustment, as required by use.

The mop proper comprises a washable fabric article having dependingthrums 58 sewed to a fabric top Bil. This fabric top is of elongated,relatively narrow design, and has sewed to its marginal edges twopockets 62 and 64, which at the central portion are Spaced apart asufficient distance to permit the frame in collapsed position, as shownin Fig. 4, to be inserted into these pockets. It will be noted that eachof the pockets has intermediate portions extending angularly andinclined rearwardly relative to their end portions and are connected byloop-shaped central portions. These pockets, therefore, are seen to beof the same shape as the frame sections 2 and 4, and the rearwardinclination of the intermediate portions of the frame pockets preventsinadvertent withdrawal of the frame from the pockets,

Manipulation of the frame in inserting it into and withdrawing it fromthe receiving pockets 62 and 64 of the mop proper is as follows: Withthe frame in collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the frame sections2 and 4 are inserted in the receiving pockets 62 and 64 in the mannerclearly shown in Fig. 4. Having been inserted, the frame sections arepivoted outwardly on the bridging member or support 20 until the frameassumes the. extended position shown in Fig. 1. Movemerit beyond thisextended position is prevented by the lug or stop 45 and by the lug 42of the locking means or member 26. In approaching extended position theupper edge of the end portion 8 of the frame section 4, with which thelocking means is associated, engages the inclined cam edge 40 of the lug38, exerting thereby a component force axially of the support member 20,and thus, causing the locking means or member 26 to tilt or pivotrearwardly about its edge 44. The rearward movement of the locking meanspermits the end portions 6 and 8, with which the locking means isassociated, to assume a parallel relation, the end portion 8 of theframe section 4 being located between the lugs 38 and 42.

The spring 24 then automatically causes the locking member to snapforwardly with its flanges 32 and 34 overlying the end portions 6 and 8and thereby maintaining the frame sections in securely locked position.When it is desired to eiTect a collapsing of the mop to remove the frameor for the purposes of storage, it is merely necessary to manuallyoperate the handle portion 36 to cause the locking means or member 26 totilt or pivot rearwardly about its edge- 44, and this rearward movementof the locking means removes the flanges 32 and 34 and the lug 38 fromtheir overlapping relation to an end portion 8 of the frame section 4.The frame sections are then free to be moved into collapsed position.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that applicant hasprovided a particularly simple compact, economical and efficient meansfor automatically locking frame sections of a collapsible mop inextended position, such means being provided with readily manipulatablemeans to release said locking means to permit collapsing of the mopframe; such frame is provided with means for universally mounting ahandle receiving member thereon, and that such frame is provided withangularly inclined portions, elfectively preventing inadvertentWithdrawal of the frame from the head of a mop having frame receivingpockets similarly shaped.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A mop frame comprising a pair of sections, means pivotally connectingsaid sections to permit the sections to be moved from a collapsedposition to an extended position about said pivot means, means on theframe extending generally parallel to said pivot means and adapted toengage the side portions of both of said sections for locking the sametogether when the sections are in predetermined, extended position,resilient 75 means on the frame normally urging said locking means intosaid engaging position, and means movable automatically upon movement ofsaid sections toward extended position for moving said locking meansinto retracted position to permit movement of said sections to saidextended position.

2. A mop frame comprising a pair of loop sections having overlappingportions, means for pivotally connecting said portions to permit saidsections to be moved from a collapsed position to an extended position,means carried by said pivot means for locking said sections together,resilient means also carried by said pivot means for normally urgingsaid locking means into looking position, means automatically operableby movement of said sections toward extended position for operating saidlocking means into retracted position to permit said sections to beextended to a common plane and means for releasing said locking means topermit collapsing of said section.

3. A mop frame comprising a pair of loop sections having overlappingportions, means for pivotally connecting said portions to permit saidsections to be moved from a collapsed position to an extended position,a locking member tiltably mounted on said pivot means and adapted tooverlie said overlapping portions to lock said sections together uponmovement into extended position and means for releasing said lockingmeans to permit collapsing of said section.

4. A mop frame comprising a pair of strip metal loop sections havingoverlapping portions, means for pivotally connecting said portions topermit said sections to be moved from a collapsed position to anextended position, a locking member tiltably mounted on said pivot meansand adapted to overlap said overlapping portions to lock said sectionstogether, resilient means normally urging said locking member intolocking position, means automatically operable by movement of saidsection toward extended position for operating said locking member intoretracted position to permit said sections to be extended into a commonplane and means for releasing said locking member to permit collapsingof said sections.

5. A mop frame comprising a pair of loop sections having overlappingportions, a bridging member pivotally connecting the overlappingportions of said sections to permit said sections to be moved from acollapsed position to an extended position, a locking member mounted onsaid bridging member for movement toward and from one pair of saidoverlapping portions, means normally urging said locking member intolooking position, means automatically operable upon movement of saidsections toward extended position for operating said locking member toretracted position to permit said sections to be extended into a commonplane, and manually operable means for moving said locking member intoretracted position to permit collapsing of said sections.

6. A mop frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending loopsections having overlapping portions, a bridging member extendingtransversely of said sections and pivotally connecting the overlappingportions thereof, a locking member having an enlarged opening receivingone end of said bridging member, said looking member having a laterallyextending flange adapted to overlie an adjacent pair of said overlappingportions of said sections to lock said sections together in extendedposition, and a laterally extending handle portion operable to releasesaid locking member to permit collapsing of said section.

7. A mop frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending loopsections having overlapping portions, a bridging member extendingtransversely of said sections and pivotally connecting the overlappingportions thereof, a locking member having an enlarged opening receivingone end of said bridging member, said locking member having a laterallyextending flange adapted to overlie an adjacent pair of said overlappingportions of said sections to lock said sections together in extendedposition, and a second laterally extending flange adapted to overliesaid adjacent portions for limiting the movement of said section.

8. A mop frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending loopsections having overlapping portions, a bridging member extendingtransversely of said sections and pivotally connecting the overlappingportions, a locking member having an enlarged opening for receiving oneend of said bridging member, said locking member having laterallyextending flanges adapted to overlie an adjacent pair of saidoverlapping portions of said sections to lock said sections together,resilient means carried by said bridging member and acting against saidlocking member for normally urging the latter into locking position,said locking member having a cam portion in the path of pivotal movementof an overlapping portion of one of said sections upon movement of saidsections toward extended position, for operating said locking memberinto retracted position to permit said sections to be extended into acommon plane and means for releasing said locking member to permitcollapsing of said sections.

9. A mop frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending loopsections having overlapping portions, a bridging member extendingtransversely of said sections and pivotally connecting the overlappingportions, a locking member having an enlarged opening for receiving oneend of said bridging member, said locking member having laterallyextending flanges adapted to overlie an adjacent pair of saidoverlapping portions of said sections to lock said sections together,resilient means carried by said bridging member and acting against saidlocking member for normally urging the latter into locking position,said locking member having a cam portion in the path of pivotal movementof an overlapping portion of one of said sections upon movement of saidsections toward extended position, for operating said locking memberinto retracted position to permit said sections to be extended into acommon plane, and said locking member having a handle portion extendingoppositely from said cam portion for moving said locking member intoretracted position to permit collapsing of said sections.

10. A mop frame comprising a pair of loop sections, means pivotallyconnecting said sections to permit the sections to be moved from acollapsed position to an extended position, locking means on the framefor holding the sections in extended position and comprising a lockingmember having projections extended axially of said pivot andtransversely of the path of pivotal movement of said sections for atleast partially embracing both of said sections in extended positionwhereby to lock the sections together, means supporting the lockingmember on the frame for movement relative to said sections to permitretraction of the lateral projections from looking engagement with atleast one of said loop sections, and resilient means normally urgingsaid locking member into position to engage said sections.

11. A mop frame comprising a pair of loop sections, means pivotallyconnecting said sections to permit the sections to be moved from acollapsed position to an extended position, locking means on the framefor holding the sections in extended position and comprising a generallychannel-shaped member having lateral projec tiens extended axially ofsaid pivot and transversely of the path of movement of said sectionsabout said pivot for at least partially embracing both of said sectionsin extended position Whereby to lock the sections together, meanssupporting the locking member on the frame for movement in a generallyaxial direction to permit retraction of the lateral projections fromlooking engagement with at least one of said loop sections, resilientmeans normally urging said locking member into position to engage saidsections, and cam abutment means on the locking member and in the pathof movement of said sections, said cam being engageable by one of saidsections to force the locking member substantially axially and todisengaging position, said spring means being operative to urge thelocking member into locking position when the sections are extended.

ERNEST W. BURCHELL.

